US3362715A - Map game - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1968 R. s. HARTPENC 3,362,715

MAP GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 12, 1964 @n .n0 l

Jam 9, '1968 R. s. HARTPENCE 3,362,715 n MAP GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l2, 1964 F/GZU F/G. 2c

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United States Patent O 3,362,715 MAP GAME Robert S. Hartpence, 805 Midland National Bank Bldg., Binings, Mom. 59161 Filed May 12, 1964, Ser. No. 366,760 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-134) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A map game having playing pieces including a board having thereon a defined geographic area divided into small hexagonal areas and traversed by a plurality of playing paths. Many of the hexagonal areas have indicia which refer the player to one of two decks of cards which in turn have instructions regarding various kinds and degrees of fortune or misfortune. The playing pieces include a marker to show each players position on a path as determined by a throw of dice in combination with the instructions on the cards. The playing pieces also include loot pieces which have a point value and which are accumulated according to the instructions on the cards. Bonus points are awarded for completing traverse of the playing paths and for accumulating the most loot.

This invention relates to a game and has as its principal objective to provide the participants thereof a game which captures the fascination and excitement existing during the development of the early west.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a game which, although simple in its basic procedures, is -complex enough in its ramifications that the interest of both adults and children will be maintained while stimulating `both groups to a greater interest in and understanding of the historical development of the United States.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a game which may conveniently and competitively be played by from two to four players.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a game which, although containing an element of chance, depends primarily on the judgment and shrewdness of the participants.

In general, the game board is equipped with a plurality of paths along a background of the state of Montana. The plurality of paths are representative of various stages of historical development undergone by the state of Montana since post-revolutionary days.

The game reproduces conditions and vernacular existing during these periods of development. Representative of the pioneers way of life, the participants are subjected to a series of bonanzas and calamities imposed by chance and by the actions of other pioneers (participants).

These and other objectives and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood upon a reading of the following specifications taken in view of the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a plan view of the game board showing the various paths over a background of the state of Montana;

FIGURE lA shows on an enlarged scale a small portion of the game board;

FIGURES 2a, 2b and 2d show the various playing pieces used while the game is progressing;

FIGURE 2c shows the bag in which playing pieces are placed;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective of the chance elements; and

FIGURE 4 is a representation of each participants position token.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like elements, indicate like parts, the numeral indicates the playing surface of this invention. Represented on the surface is a map of the State of Montana defined by a border 11, and having the following routes indicated across the state or playing surface:

(a) The trail followed by the early explorations of Lewis and Clark as indicated by the numeral 14;

(b) A trail 16 (trappers trail) indicating the principal routes of the mountain men and fur trappers after Lewis and Clark and other early expeditions had opened the territory;

(c) A trail 18 (golden trek) indicating the principal routes followed by the gold and silver mining interests; and

(d) A trail 20 indi-eating a cow track from the south ending at Helena, the capital of `the State of Montana.

It should also be noted that various artistic representations are made in the background to add to the fascination and general attitude of the games participants. The portion of the surface 10 within the contines of the state border 11 is further divided into a plurality of hexagonal shapes or areas which the various trails traverse. These hexagonal areas are indicated by the numeral 24. For purposes of this specification, certain hexagonal areas have been labeled B to represent what would normally 'be light blue on the board, and others labeled C which would normally be light red on the board. Although in the sales embodiment of the game, these hexagonal areas will be of the above-mentioned pastel colors, the C areas will be termed Calamity stations and the B areas will be referred to as Bonanza stations. Outlines 30 yand 32 are provided to respectively receive a deck of Calamity cards 60 and a deck of Bonanza cards 62. The indicia on these cards and their purpose will become more apparent hereinafter.

The game includes various loot pieces such as cattle 40, pelts (plews) 42, and gold nuggets 46. Each game will include approximately twenty of items 40, 42 and 46, each having various points of value ranging from 5 to 50. The loot pieces are formed of plastic and are manufactured with a permanent point value embossed thereon. Also forming a part of this invention are the variously colored player tokens 48 in the form of a cowboy on a horse and there will be four of these, one for each participant. In addition, each game will include a pair of dice S0 as the chance means.

In preparing for the game, the board is placed on a stable surface and each player selects the participant indicator token 48 of his choice. The board is placed to face a player chosen to actas a loot dealer and score keeper. The two decks of cards are placed face down on the spaces 30 and 32 and the loot tokens 40, 42 and 46 are pla-ced in an opaque container. Each player receives a pouch or poke bag 44 in which to keep his earned loot plus three of the value tokens chosen at random from the container. It is important that each participant keep the point value of his loot a secret so that his total value of loot is unknown to the other players.

Play begins with each participant placing his token on the start space at Fort Union. The first phase of the game is to follow the trail of the Lewis and Clark expedition indicated by the trail numeral 14. Each player sequentially throws the dice but only moves according to the number of spaces indicated by one die of his choice. The player always throws both dice land chooses to move either of the two numbers thrown. If a player throws the same number on both dice, he still moves according to only one die but receives an extra throw of the dice. A participant may move either forward as indicated by the arrows on the trail (FIGURE 1A), or sideways, but never backward unless forced to by direction of a Calamity card. Throughout the play of the game, it is to participants advantage to move forward rapidly while still managing to land on the Bonanza spaces B and avoid the Calamity spaces C. A sideways move is made only to avoid a Calamity space or to attempt to land `on a Bonanza space. The variety of play developed through the use of hexagonal areas or stations should be noted. The hexagonal shape permits a choice of three forward directions. The rules of the game provide, however, that side movements and backward Calamity movements must he respectively perpendicular and either on or parallel to the trail `being traversed.

The accumulation of loot is accomplished by choosing the proper die to land on a Bonanza spa-ce along the various trails` Upon completion of each route, a player receives a lbonus of twenty-five points and starts to the next route and receives an eXtra throw or dice at that time. The trails must be traveled in numerical order.

As the game proceeds, a player who lands on a Bonanza station draws a card from the correct deck and follows directions accordingly. Sample indications on the Bonanza cards are as follows:

BONANZA CARDS Indians Friendly Pass BY Two Spaces Cow Haven Collect Three Head of Cattle Hit Mother Lode Collect Two Nuggets Collect Three Nuggets Good Graze Collect Three Head of Cattle Water Hole Collect All of One Opponents Critters Fine Fur! Advance 5 Spaces Bonus 50 Points Beaver Plentiful Collect One Pelt Grass In Abundance Collect Three He ad Of Cattle Advance 5 Your Choice Good Camp Site Opponents Forfeit 2 Plews 2 Critters l Nugget d Trap Yields Two Plews Gold Strike! Collect Two Nuggets From Any Opponent Advance 4 Your Choice Fur Plentiful Bonus Points China George Movee Three Spotee Fair Weather Advance Three Spaces No War Paint Advance Four Spaces Defense Card No Loot Lucky Day Collect Two Loot Tokens From Any Opponent CALAMI'IY CARDS Replenish Supplies Retreat Two Spaces Gather Buffalo Chips Move Sideways Four Spaces Avoid Rapids Move Sideways Two Spaces Blizzard Move Sideways Four Spaces You Rustler Forfeit Your Critters Horses Stampeded Move Back One Space Buffalo Stampede Retreat Five Spaces Indians on Warpath Sorry! Lose Turn Whoops! Skunk Invades Camp Back Up One Space Smoke Peace Pipe No Move Indian Raid Return To Start Of Trail Indian Uprising Move Sideways Three Spaces Bear Attack Move Back Three Spaces When all the cards have been used they are reshuflled and returned to the designated spaces 30 and 32. Note that in the Bonanza deck there are several defense cards to protect a player from an opponent demanding a forfeit of any item of loot indicated on the Bonanza card drawn by the second player. The defense cards may provide permanent protection or only protection for single use, a1- though the latter is preferable. There are no defenses to Calamity cards and the instructions must be followed immediately and explicitly.

The rst player to complete the iirst three trails proceeds on a trip over trail 20 and upon reaching Helena, declares Montana a territory, to thereby end the game. The player ending the game is given 50 bonus points and double that amount is given to the player who has accumulated the most loot in each category; namely, plews, gold, and cattle, when the territory has been declared.

As can be seen, the principal item of strategy is atthe total value of loot possessed by his opponents (two or more) and makes his claims accordingly. During the Course of play, it is obviously better to concentrate on obtaining loot tokens in order to earn the bonuses for accumulation ofthe most loot in each category. As the game progresses, the players will gradually develop a sense of how to traverse the various trails and benet from the Bonanza spaces and avoid the Calamity spaces. There is, of course, a certain element of fortune in the throw of the dice but there is also involved a great deal of judgment and skill.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed in the above description what are deemed to be the most practical and eflicient embodiments and processes, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to the specific steps and structures described, as there might be changes made without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope ofthe accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A game board apparatus for a plurality of participants comprising a playing board having thereon a map of a known geographic area and covering a substantial portion of the boards surface, said portion being divided into many smaller hexagonal areas throughout its surface, a plurality of separate playing paths across said portion, each of which intersects a substantial number of said smaller hexagonal areas, and each of which has a starting station and an ending station, said intersected hexagonal areas and the other hexagonal areas adjacent to at least some of said intersected areas having thereon one or the other of two kinds of indicia,

a plurality of pieces of different appearance for division among the participants,

a bag for each participant in which to keep his pieces hidden from the other participants,

a first deck of cards the individual cards of which carry instructions regarding various kinds and degrees of fortune with respect to other participants value pieces, and a second deck of cards, the individual cards of which carry instructions regarding various kinds and degrees of misfortune with respect to a participants movement across the board and the pieces held by him,

a distinctive marker for each participant for registering the position and movement of each participant along said paths,

chance means for determining the extent of movement of each participant on a particular turn of play.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 452,133 5/1891 Hill 273-134X 1,367,261 2/ 1921 Hudon 273-134 1,525,023 2/ 1925 Brown 273-134 X 1,529,908 3/ 1925 Newcombe 273-134 1,613,526 1/1927 Nedds 273-134 1,738,582 12/ 1929 Johannessen 273-134 2,128,608 8/ 1938 Goertemiller 273-134 FOREIGN PATENTS 926,392 4/ 1947 France.

1,327 1915 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner,

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